Location
Northeast Louisiana is strategically positioned as both the center point and crossroads of the Mid-South, one of the fastest growing regions of the United States. The eleven parish Northeast Louisiana region is located at the midpoint between Dallas abd Birmingham, Little Rock and New Orleans, and Houston and Memphis. Over 21 percent of the population of the United States lives within a 500 mile radius of the region. Major metropolitan areas within this 500 mile radius include Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Nashville, Birmingham, Mobile, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Memphis, New Orleans and Jackson.

Industry
Currently, the region serves as home to such diversified industries and businesses as Riverwood International, CenturyTel, Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation, State Farm Insurance Regional Office, ConAgra Processing, Stone Container, International Paper, Ruffin Metal Building, PPM Environmental Consultants and a multitude of emerging service, healthcare, manufacturing, wholesale and retail businesses.

Workforce
Northeast Louisiana is home to approximately 312,000 individuals. Ouachita Parish, home of the metropolitan base of the region, has a population of approximately 150,000. The workforce of the region is comprised of professionals in industry, healthcare and professional trades, a highly skilled labor force, retail and service industry trained individuals as well as unskilled labor. Industries in the region rate the productivity level of Northeast Louisiana employees as some of the best in the nation.

Higher Education
Three major universities - the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Louisiana Tech, and Grambling University - are located within a 30 mile radius in the Northeast region, offering degree programs in such fields as Pharmacy, Engineering, Architecture, Nursing, Construction and a wide variety of nationally accredited undergraduate, graduate and Doctoral programs. Vocational and technical schools are located throughout the region, and Delta Community College, in Monroe, offers satellite classes regionwide.

Transportation
The region is bisected east to west by the major Mid-South Interstate, I-20. Virtually the entire Northeast Region lies within 35 miles north or south of Interstate 20. Major ports in the region are the Ports of Lake Providence and Madison Parish. Both are nine foot channel ports providing access to the Mississippi River. Major air service for the region is provided by the Monroe Regional Airport, and municipal, parish and private airports are available in Columbia, Winnsboro, Jonesboro, Madison, Morehouse Parish/Bastrop, Tensas Parish and Farmerville. Rail services for the Northeast Louisiana Region include Delta Southern, Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern, Midsouth and Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri.

Healthcare
The Monroe/West Monroe area is served by four major medical centers - St. Francis Medical Center, Glenwood Regional Medical, North Monroe (HCA) and the Louisiana State University Health Services Center at Monroe. Several specialty clinics are located in the area as well. Eight of the ten remaining parishes in the region are served by local (within the parish) hospitals.

Quality of Life
The nickname "Sports(wo)man's Paradise" certainly applies to Northeast Louisiana. The region includes D'Arbonne Lake, Caney Lake, the new Poverty Point Reservoir, Ouachita River, and Mississippi River. These waterways, along with a multitude of ox-bow lakes, bayous, rivers and streams provide unlimited opportunities for fishing, waterskiing and other water sports. Federal, state and private wildlife reserves in the region provide glimpses of nature at its best. In addition, the area is a magnet for hunters. The deer and duck hunting are some of the best in the country.

An abundance of great golf courses has become a major calling card for Northeast Louisiana. Both public and private courses are available throughout the entire region.

The area offers an incredibly large and diverse base of backgrounds, activities, facilities and organizations which bring a unique blend of cultural offerings. The Twin City Ballet, Monroe Symphony Orchestra, Strauss Little Theatre, Strauss Young Stage, Ike Hamilton Expo Center, Rose Theatre (Bastrop), Schepis Museum (Columbia), Princess Theatre (Winnsboro), Jackson Parish Christmas Lights, Pickin and Ginnin Festival (Rayville), Franklin Parish Catfish Festival, Cotton Museum (Lake Providence), The Children's Museum (Monroe), Masur Museum of Art (Monroe), ELsong Garden and Conservatory, the Biedenharn home and Bible Museum.